Upcoming announcement for stadium renovations? Found these advertisements newly posted around Bobby Dodd.

[stinger78]

The amount of people I have seen complain about the mid field logo that is only there to let people know about the fundraising and is supposedly only supposed to be there for one game is astonishing.

You’re astonished by the number of people who complain?

 

[leatherneckjacket]

I hate to poo poo on this, but I really wish we would do something to significantly reduce the debt as well as permanently fund every scholarship and coaching position through endowments before we undertake a massive capital project like this. We have one of the highest debt to revenue ratios in all college athletics and we need to fix that before increasing our debt even further.

 

[gtchem05]

I hate to poo poo on this, but I really wish we would do something to significantly reduce the debt as well as permanently fund every scholarship and coaching position through endowments before we undertake a massive capital project like this. We have one of the highest debt to revenue ratios in all college athletics and we need to fix that before increasing our debt even further.

An organization doesn’t generally initiate a fundraiser to relieve debt. It’s not really something that would excite the majority of a donor base. You sell a vision and provide others the opportunity to make it a reality. As a bonus, by raising donated funds for the renovations, the GTAA doesn’t have to put its own revenue towards the project and can use that to potentially pay down the debt. There’s also the matter of the interest rate on the debt which, if I recall correctly, is not particularly high making paying it off less of an urgent issue.

 

[wrmathis]

You’re astonished by the number of people who complain?

I shouldn’t be but damn man. The logo changing for a game isn’t a big deal

 

[stinger78]

I shouldn’t be but damn man. The logo changing for a game isn’t a big deal

Nope.

 

[Bogey]

I hate to poo poo on this, but I really wish we would do something to significantly reduce the debt as well as permanently fund every scholarship and coaching position through endowments before we undertake a massive capital project like this. We have one of the highest debt to revenue ratios in all college athletics and we need to fix that before increasing our debt even further.

I think you need to run for congress. We need people like you in DC.

 

[leatherneckjacket]

An organization doesn’t generally initiate a fundraiser to relieve debt. It’s not really something that would excite the majority of a donor base. You sell a vision and provide others the opportunity to make it a reality. As a bonus, by raising donated funds for the renovations, the GTAA doesn’t have to put its own revenue towards the project and can use that to potentially pay down the debt. There’s also the matter of the interest rate on the debt which, if I recall correctly, is not particularly high making paying it off less of an urgent issue.

I do not care about getting people excited for a capital project. I care about the fiduciary responsibilities of the GTAA to manage their debt properly. We have way too much debt, irrespective of the rates. Yes, some of the debt has low interest rates, but some of those rates are expiring soon and will have to be refinanced at a much higher rate. Regardless, it is not smart for any organization to continually add to its debt or initiate a major capital expenditure project when it has as much debt as we have relative to our revenue. I believe the $500M capital campaign will only cover a portion of the total project costs, which means more debt at a much higher interest rate. I say pay down the debt first, then talk to me about financing new capital projects.

 

[RamblinRed]

I do not care about getting people excited for a capital project. I care about the fiduciary responsibilities of the GTAA to manage their debt properly. We have way too much debt, irrespective of the rates. Yes, some of the debt has low interest rates, but some of those rates are expiring soon and will have to be refinanced at a much higher rate. Regardless, it is not smart for any organization to continually add to its debt or initiate a major capital expenditure project when it has as much debt as we have relative to our revenue. I believe the $500M capital campaign will only cover a portion of the total project costs, which means more debt at a much higher interest rate. I say pay down the debt first, then talk to me about financing new capital projects.

While I generally agree with you and have always said that if I won the lottery the big pile of money i'd give to the AA could only be used for 2 things - paying down debt and funding scholarship endowments - this is just symptomatic of what college athletics, especially college football has become.

Everybody is just spending more and more in an ever expanding arms race that appears to have no end. The end will come eventually when the money flows don't match the spending and programs start going under. That is basically where college athletics is headed.

 

[travgt01]

via the official website​

• What is the planned timeline of this initiative?
  • Oct. 4, 2024: Full Steam Ahead launches to all members of the Georgia Tech athletics community; Inventory becomes available
  • Spring 2026: Construction of the Zelnak Center Addition begins
  • Fall 2026: Start of Capital Projects Construction & Renovations at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field
  • Spring 2027: Re-seating process is tentatively slated to begin
  • Fall 2027: Construction complete on Bobby Dodd Stadium

2026 season 100% in the Benz?

 

[TampaBuzz]

2026 season 100% in the Benz?

Maybe we work out a deal with Georgia State? Home games on alternating weekends?

 

[LT 1967]

J Batt will be a guest on the ACCN at either 5:15 or 5:30 to discuss Full Steam ahead. I just turned on the TV and missed part of the announcement, but I think he will on at 5:30.

Damon Stoudamire will be on in a few minutes.

 

[jgtengineer]

Maybe we work out a deal with Georgia State? Home games on alternating weekends?

It will definitely be the Benz.

 

[RonJohn]

2026 season 100% in the Benz?

Not necessarily. "Winter" doesn't start until December 21st. The mutt game is in the cesspool in 2026. Could start destructive construction the week of Thanksgiving.

 

[Towaliga]

They should just put a gigantic mirror in the UN so those who don’t have 360 degree motion in their necks can see it. Would make for a cool low run coming out of Hartsfield, too.

The problem with that would be the issue of the reflection of the sun during noon games. If the mirror is slightly concave, the concentrated reflected beam would vaporize everyone in the south stands. I saw it happen many times in sci-fi movies from the 1950’s.

 

[tmhunter52]

I do not care about getting people excited for a capital project. I care about the fiduciary responsibilities of the GTAA to manage their debt properly. We have way too much debt, irrespective of the rates. Yes, some of the debt has low interest rates, but some of those rates are expiring soon and will have to be refinanced at a much higher rate. Regardless, it is not smart for any organization to continually add to its debt or initiate a major capital expenditure project when it has as much debt as we have relative to our revenue. I believe the $500M capital campaign will only cover a portion of the total project costs, which means more debt at a much higher interest rate. I say pay down the debt first, then talk to me about financing new capital projects.

Maybe Tech is counting on higher payouts to handle the debt service when Tech joins the B1G…

 

[yeti92]

$300,000,000 of 1/2 a BILLION already raised....great work JBatt!

I must have missed it, where'd you see that?

 

[iceeater1969]

Maybe Tech is counting on higher payouts to handle the debt service when Tech joins the B1G…

Got to dress for sucess.

 

[TooTall]

I must have missed it, where'd you see that?

Tech Athletics Launches Full Steam Ahead

Yellow Jackets’ $500 million fundraising initiative includes Bobby Dodd Stadium renovation

ramblinwreck.com

Second paragraph. I always thank him for the great job he's doing when I see him around and he always stops and shakes my hand. Class act great guy we have at AD.

 

[apatriot1776]

When North Carolina added seats, it reduced their capacity from 60,000 to 50500 or 9500 seats according to AI. This is a reduction of 15.8% They used 22-inch seats. I think UNC added seats throughout the stadium or it appears that way on TV.

Based on that info: BD Current capacity--51913 x .158 =8202 seat reduction. Resulting capacity would be 43711. Obviously, an estimate since I don't know the current width of our seats (I think 16 or 18 Inches) or the width or UNC's original seats.

This based on adding seats to the total stadium. I doubt GT would add to the upper north.

In the render I count 20 seats across a section in lower West, where GT currently sells 24. Multiplied across the entire stadium that would give us 42,427. That doesn’t take into account the student section staying bleachers, or club seats/box seats likely retaining the same capacity. So all told, if the renders are accurate, 43700 is a reasonable estimate.

 

[forensicbuzz]

Why spend extra money on better renderings that will change? "I was gonna donate a few million but since the renderings aren't top notch, I wont." Seems about right for Tech fans.

And I'm not attacking you, it's more of the elitetism mentality of Tech fans on things that don't really matter in the long run.

We are elite.